Wells Superior Court
Criminal Cases
Adam E. Burke, 41, Decatur, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with an alcohol concentration equivalency of .15 percent or more, a Class A misdemeanor.
Sentenced to a year in the Wells County Jail, with all but 20 days suspended, and placed on probation for 345 days. Credited for six days spent in confinement awaiting disposition of his case.
Ordered to serve 180 days of home detention, pay for his blood test, court costs and probation fees.
Driver’s license suspended for one year.
As part of a plea agreement, charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor; and operating a vehicle while intoxicated, a Class C misdemeanor; and driving left of center, a Class C infraction, were all dismissed.
Markle police received a report of a possible intoxicated driver southbound in a white Ford pickup truck on Marzane Road from 1000N at 3:30 p.m. Jan. 14. A Markle officer spotted the pickup truck and observed in his report to the court that the vehicle was southbound in the northbound lane of the road. The officer pulled the vehicle over just off Marzane Road on 700N.
Burke reportedly told the officer that he was having problems with his unemployment and was heading to Work One.
The officer noted in his report that Burke smelled of alcohol, exhibited symptoms of intoxication and blew a .133 percent alcohol concentration equivalency on a Breathalyzer test.
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One-day jury trial set for 8:30 a.m. Aug. 2 for Ramon Antonio Blanco, 31, Bluffton, charged with operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in his body, a Class C misdemeanor; possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; operating a motor vehicle without insurance, a Class A infraction; driving while suspended, a Class A infraction and stop lamp and/or signal lamp projecting a glaring white light, a Class C infraction.
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Ethan Allen Copple, 19, pleaded guilty to operating a vehicle with a Schedule I or II controlled substance or its metabolite in his body, a Class C misdemeanor.
Sentenced to 60 days in the Wells County Jail, all suspended, and placed on probation for one year.
Ordered to pay for his blood test, court costs and probation fees. Copple may be eligible for early release from probation.
Charges of improper headlights and unlawful display of green lights, both Class C infractions, were both dismissed as part of a plea agreement.
While patrolling Main Street Aug. 31, 2021, a sheriff’s deputy spotted a vehicle with green fog and wheel well lights. He pulled the vehicle over.
The deputy asked Copple if he had anything illegal in his vehicle. Copple reportedly admitted to having marijuana in the vehicle and upon further questioning reportedly admitted to having smoked marijuana about 11 hours earlier.
A toxicology test reportedly showed the presence of THC in Copple’s blood. THC is the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.
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One-day jury trial set for 8:30 a.m. July 22 for Devaris C. Ward, 30, Ossian, charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person, a Class A misdemeanor; and open alcoholic beverage container during operation of a motor vehicle and driving left of center, both Class C infractions.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Jalen Dyron Jones, 28, Fort Wayne, charged with possession of marijuana, a Class B misdemeanor; possession of drug paraphernalia, a Class C misdemeanor; speeding and open alcoholic beverage container during operation of a motor vehicle, both Class C infractions. Released on his own recognizance.
At 5:52 p.m. March 28, a sheriff’s detective was driving north on Adams Street near Cherry Street when he clocked an oncoming 2017 Kia at 93 mph-45 zone. He turned around, followed it and pulled it over at Western Avenue. As he spoke with the driver, he reported being able to smell an odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.
The deputy asked Jones about the odor and he reportedly handed the deputy an empty bag of Amsterdam Premium Cannabis Company marijuana. A state trooper arrived to assist and Jones and his passenger were told to exit the vehicle.
A search of the Kia reportedly turned up a second bag, but this one allegedly contained a green leafy bod with the odor and appearance of marijuana. Also allegedly located in the car were a hollowed out Swishers Sweets cigarello stuffed with a green leafy substance with the odor and appearance of marijuana, and an open half full bottle of Patron tequila. Jones reportedly blew a .026 percent alcohol concentration on a Breathalyzer, we below the legal limit.
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Preliminary plea of not guilty entered for Michaela J. Horstmeyer, 20, Bluffton, charged with resisting law enforcement, a Class A misdemeanor. Bond continued at $1,500. Jeffrey Stineburg appointed public defender.
A Bluffton police officer attempted to serve an Adams County warrant for arrest on Horstmeyer outside of a residence in the 400 block of East Wiley Avenue March 28. Horstmeyer reportedly repeatedly backed away from the officer and refused to comply with his commands before she finally backed into the wall of a house and was taken into custody.
Civil Cases
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Carey Reynolds, Bluffton, and Justin Reynolds, Bluffton.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Robin D. Leek, Bluffton, and Bryce J. Leek, Garland, N.C.
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Christina Affolder, Bluffton, and Patrick Affolder, Bluffton.
Wells Circuit Court
Civil Cases
Petition for dissolution filed in the marriage of Susan J. Schadenhauffen, Bluffton, and Mark A. Schladenhauffen, Scottsville, South Africa.
Files Candidacy
A declaration of candidacy by a Democratic, Libertarian, or Republican party candidate when no town primary is conducted in 2022 has been filed with the Wells County Clerk’s office by Tara G. Bowersock, Zanesville, seeking election in November as Zanesville Town Clerk.
